Re-Branding a Perennial Disappointment: The Toronto Legion Story

[dstevensonjr 402]

*A note ahead of the article. This is primarily about the current roster, which means that transactions of players who weren't in Toronto for long, or aren't on now won't get much of a mention. Doesn't mean that they weren't part of the turnaround*

 

Stop me if you've heard this before: a Toronto team has once again been a disappointment in the playoffs. As a die hard Leafs fan, I've heard that story all too much in my life.

 

The Toronto Legion had told a similar story for a long time. One of the original franchises in the VHL back in S1, the Legion saw 9 Continental Cup wins in the first 65 seasons (an average of one Cup in just more than every seven seasons). The longest Cup drought for the Legion in that span was 13 seasons. The Legion also appeared in the Cup Final 17 times in that 65 season stretch, getting there roughly once every four seasons. That Cup win in S65 kicked off a drought lasting 25 seasons that would not see Toronto make a Cup Final appearance, let alone win another Continental Cup. In fact, in that 25 season stretch the Legion would post just 3 Conference Final appearances, as well as only 10 playoff appearances. It was this run of futility that would leave the Toronto Legion branded as a Perennial Disappointment, and one that would require the team to address the issues and forge a better path.

 

S85 Off-Season

Off-Ice Changes Begin

 

The changes in the off-season needed to come off of the ice. Toronto was in need of a fresh voice at the top, and a new direction on the ice. That change came before the draft, as Moon was named the GM of the Legion following an interim stint by Agito, who had succeeded Doomsday. Moon headed into the S86 Entry Draft with a long-term plan to re-make the Toronto Legion into a team that could bowl over the competition, and went to work on crafting a team through the draft, free agency, and trades.

S86

The Changing of the Guard

 

The current roster for the Legion can be traced all the way back to S86. With a team in desperate need of new life, the Legion made a flurry of trades to acquire draft picks in the S86 draft. Their first draft pick in the S86 draft (13th overall) was used to take a young goaltender from Las Vegas in the VHLM. Coming off of a 41-14-4 season with the Aces, posting a .911 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average with 6 shutouts, Joel Castle was the third goalie off the board in the draft. By S87, Castle had already entrenched himself as the Legion starting goaltender, starting a run of six straight seasons with more than 60 starts in Toronto (with a seventh on the way this season). The Legion didn't only add a goaltender from this draft, as the 22nd overall pick was used on a right winger who has found a spot in the lineup for the last two seasons. Kobe Johnson was taken after playing for Las Vegas as well in the VHLM, and followed up his draft with a 94 point sophomore season in the M. Johnson made his way into the S92 forward group for the Legion, and has posted back to back seasons over 20 points for Toronto.

 

S87

The Franchise Forward Building Blocks

 

There is absolutely no doubt that the S87 Entry Draft was the most important draft in recent franchise history for the Toronto Legion. The Legion held the first overall pick in the draft after finishing second last and winning the draft lottery heading into the draft. Toronto was also fortunate with another pick that they had acquired previously in a deal with Seattle, one that would net them the third overall pick. With two of the first three picks in the draft, it was absolutely imperative that the Legion hit on both picks, and the hits ended up being home runs. The first of the two picks was used to draft a Centre out of Ottawa who had just piled up 128 points in his draft year. The second of the two picks was used on another Centre, this time out of Halifax, who had 129 points in his draft year. The players? Long time Legion Captain Mac Atlas, and multi-season scoring leader Jimi Jaks. Both of these players have been mainstays on the Legion roster, Atlas joining the team and playing in S87, and Jaks making the jump the following year in S88. There is no question that this draft has had the largest combined impact on the current team with what Atlas and Jaks have meant to Toronto.

 

S88

The Blueline Finds its Leader

 

Two drafts in, and the first round focus for the Legion had been in net and up front. There was a clear, growing need to ensure that the back end of the roster wasn't being ignored. Toronto headed into the S88 draft with the third overall pick, and had their sights set on a young defender coming off of a monstrous offensive season in Houston. The Bulls had a defender who led the VHLM in assists, and points by defenders, and that was too much for the Legion to pass up at three. Bobby Bob was added to the Toronto mix, and made his Toronto debut in S89. Since then he's been the offensive leader of the Legion blueline, and is well on pace to lead the blueline in scoring again for the third straight season.

 

S89

The Hidden Gems

The Legion had used first round picks three seasons in a row to build up what has now become the core of the team, and it was important to add to that group in order to ensure long term success. Toronto held the third pick again in the S89 draft, but it's not that pick that has ended up being the hits of the draft. Back in S87, Toronto had made a deal with D.C. to receive current and future draft picks. Two seasons out from that deal was the S89 D.C. 2nd Round pick that Toronto received, which ended up being the first pick of the second round (17th overall). The Legion used that pick on a right winger who had 65 points for Ottawa in the VHLM. Toronto held their own pick in the third round (34th overall) as well, and selected a Centre playing for Saskatoon that was coming off of a 67 point season. Those second and third round picks respectively ended up being Harry Callahan and Diego Machado, who both came up together to join the Legion in S91. Both first gen players, they have blossomed into big roles for Toronto, and are currently tied for the lead in points on the team. In addition to the draft picks that would help the Legion later on, Toronto also traded for defender Jimmy MacElroy from Vancouver. MacElroy would be a key member of the blueline for the Legion until his retirement following S92.

 

S90

The Final Piece, and the First Step

 

With players across the board in the forward group drafted, the Legion needed to focus on adding to the blueline. Holding the second overall pick in the draft, Toronto was hoping to make a pick to help round out a group that would ensure that they weren't going to be picking near the top of the draft again. To that end, the Legion had their eyes on one of their own, as Player/GM Walter Fitzroy Jr. was available to select at two in an effort to strengthen the defense portion of the prospect pool. Fitzroy Jr. was coming off of a season in the VHLM that was split between Houston and Las Vegas, one that saw a combined 39 points including 14 goals. The off-season was a hectic, and ultimately very productive one for the Legion. A blockbuster trade with Vancouver saw the additions of Ronan Lavelle and Tomas Sogaard in the forward group, while the Legion inked Siyan Yasilievich to a one year contract to bolster the blueline prior to his retirement. The additions immediately helped propel the Legion out of the depths of the North American Conference and into first place. The season resulted in Toronto's first Conference Final appearance since S83, and only the fourth since their Cup win in S65.

 

S91

The Ultimate Success

 

The Legion had a roster in place, one which had primarily been built through the draft and supplemented through trades. Added during this draft was back-up goaltender Toddly Bobbly out of Saskatoon, who was about to complete a season for the Wild that finished 56-11-5 with a .926 save percentage and 1.76 goals against average. It also ended in a Founder's Cup for Bobbly. Coming off of the monumental jump from last in the North American Conference in S89 to first in the Conference in S90, the Legion were cautiously optimistic that they were a contender again in S91, and set out to prove that their leap forward wasn't a fluke. The team saw three rookies (Callahan, Fitzroy Jr., Machado) all come up to the main roster and contribute. Those rookies helped fill the gaps that were left behind by the one year additions from the previous season. The core players continued to flourish, with Atlas, Bob, Castle, and Jaks all making major contributions to the team success. The rookies grew into their roles. Everything added up to the culmination of the Legion re-brand with a Conference Final berth, a Continental Cup Final berth, and finally a Continental Cup Championship. Gone were the days of the "Perennial Disappointment". The Toronto Legion were "Champions Again", for the first time in 26 seasons. 

 

S92

The Streak

It's difficult to follow up a Championship season, and it is surely impossible to match the success level. That was the task that faced the Legion in S92. Faced with filling another hole in the forward group following a retirement, Toronto made a mid-season trade to add Steve Lattimer from the Seattle Bears. Lattimer immediately stepped into a productive role with the Legion, and has since grown into a dominant two way player on one of the highest scoring lines in the VHL. The core group of Toronto players all stayed together, and the continued growth of the group resulted in another playoff berth, and enough playoff success to make it back to the North American Conference Finals for the third season in a row. It was the first time that the Legion had reached three straight since the run from S57-S59.

 

S93

The Drive Continues

Entering this season, the Legion look to continue the streak of Conference Final appearances. Prior to the start of the season, Toronto traded for forward Mason Rice from HC Davos, who immediately converted to defense to help with a positional shortage on the Legion roster. While there is still plenty of runway left in this season, the Legion currently sit at 37-10-1 and in first place in the North American Conference. The hope will be to continue to have a strong season and push into the playoffs as this core of players continues to grow together.

 

Summary

The Re-Brand Successfully Completed

Unlike some Toronto teams, this one knew how to do it right. Gone are the days of this organization being a punching bag or a joke. Gone are the days of being a "Perennial Disappointment". It's evident in the way that the Legion have been successful on the ice, whether it is in the standings as a team or on the individual statistical leaderboards for the players. It's even more evident off the ice in the way that the team has been able to get full buy-in from the players and a career long commitment from many as well. Contracts for Captain Mac Atlas, scoring ace Jimi Jaks, blueline stud Bobby Bob, and goaltending brick wall Joel Castle that were signed by each player to keep them in the blue and white for the entirety of their careers show just how far this team has come. The next wave is well on their way to signing extensions to remain with the Legion for their careers. That would never have been possible during the drought of success that had previously come for this team. There's something truly special about being able to have a group stay together for as long as possible, and it should be enjoyed for as long as it can be.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Toronto Legion: Champions Again

 

Spoiler

@Moon @animal74 @Vkobe-v @v.2  @ke1vi @Baby Boomer @Dadam30 @ToddlyBobbly @pugsood @Sawyer13 

 

[dstevensonjr 402]

2000+ words Week 2

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2000+ words Week 3

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2000+ words Week 4

[Victor 10,949]

top tier profile picture Mr Skinner

[dstevensonjr 402]

7 minutes ago, Victor said:

top tier profile picture Mr Skinner

Thank you for spooling through my article!

[mattyIceman 1,214]

Yep Fire was on the 85 selloff.  Tough times